Google CEO: No Plans to Launch Own Web Browser

SAN FRANCISCO – Google Inc. (GOOG) has no plans to build its own Web browser software to compete with rival Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said on Wednesday.

During a conference call with Wall Street analysts, Schmidt dismissed speculation that the company aimed to tie together its Web search and other services to compete with Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the world's dominant Web browser.

"It looks like people have some good browsers choices already," Schmidt said. "We would not build a browser for the fun of building a browser," he said.

Google encourages its customers to use a variety of alternatives to Internet Explorer, particularly the open-source Firefox browser.

It also has partnerships to encourage the use of the Safari browser among Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) customers, Norway's Opera Software ASA, which makes browsers for computers and phones, among several other browser alternatives, he said.